Hours                          Full time

Start date                    September 2020 (flexible)

Contract                     6 month fixed term

Possibility of extending depending on performance and organisational need

The organisation

Unlocked Graduates is an award-winning organisation that aims to change the way we develop society’s future leaders, as well as how we think about prisons and prisoners by focusing on rehabilitation, and addressing the damage and cost of reoffending.

At the core of Unlocked Graduates is a new leadership programme that will get top graduates into prisons working as frontline prison officers for two years. The project grew out of a recommendation in the Coates’ Review of prison education.

Our participants are asked to focus on rehabilitation and breaking cycles of re-offending to give second chances to those who lacked opportunities earlier in life. This work will form part of their studies for a master’s degree which they will complete while taking on the full duties of a frontline prison officer. At the end of the programme they will be asked to develop policy ideas that they think have the potential to influence systemic change.

We want the programme to raise the status of a currently invisible and undervalued public service by attracting a different kind of leader to work in prisons and help identify ways to reform the prison system, reduce re-offending and improve rehabilitation. We also want our participants to consider entering other professions and sectors at the end of the two years and are building corporate relationships to offer such opportunities.

Our mission

The aim of Unlocked Graduates is to break cycles of re-offending by developing outstanding individuals to lead rehabilitation in prisons and throughout society.

The role

Interns are an invaluable part of our team and work across all areas, undertaking a range of tasks and responsibilities. The successful candidate for this role will work closely with the Programme team to plan, deliver and evaluate programme events, gaining broad experience in event coordination and project management, as well as a specific insight into the training required to become an exceptional prison officer.  

We are looking for an outstanding candidate to take on this exciting and varied role. We offer the opportunity to get involved with a wide range of activities that will help recruit, train and develop exceptional prison officers across England and ultimately reduce reoffending rates.

Key accountabilities

• Sourcing appropriate training venues, accommodation and catering

• Working within a budget and sourcing good value for money

• Co-ordinating with our finance team and processing invoices

• Co-ordinating, sourcing, delivery and organisation of resources and training materials

• Relationship management with guest speakers and external organisations

• Being a key point of contact for participants and guests, anticipating and answering queries

• Drafting communications to participants

• Designing internal documents (e.g. guidance, FAQs, itineraries) to support trainers and Head Office staff

• Implementing on-the-day logistics

• Coordinating RSVPs and post-event survey responses

• Displaying enthusiasm for the Unlocked Graduates mission

• Diary support for the senior programme team: arranging external meetings (including co-ordinating meetings with SLT and prison governors) and booking travel and accommodation

Person specification

You must be passionate about Unlocked’s mission and values, and be able to demonstrate the following:

• Organised – able to prioritise and manage your time effectively

• Able to build productive working relationships with key contacts and suppliers

• Attention to detail – able to complete both written and data-related tasks with precision, ensuring accuracy and coherence across all of your work

• Keen desire to create a quality training experience

• Excellent team work within and across teams

• Flexible and eager to get stuck in

• Computer literate, particularly in Microsoft Word and Excel

• Good written communication skills in print and email

• (Desirable) Salesforce proficient

• (Desirable) Experience Mailchimp and Survey Monkey

Other requirements

•   Right to work in the UK

To make an application

To apply, please complete this application.  

If you would like to have an informal and confidential discussion about the role or about the process please contact Ines Sanguino (ines.sanguino@unlockedgrads.org.uk)

Closing date: Monday 20th July (9am)

First round interviews: W/C 27th July (via Zoom)

Second round interviews: TBC

Please state clearly in your application any limits on your availability to interview.  

For more information about Unlocked please visit our website.